It's a measure of Oregon's self-assurance, that the UO women essentially could concede this weekend's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title while keeping their eye on a bigger prize.

The Ducks are in commanding position to win a fifth consecutive NCAA women's indoor title.

The NCAA Indoor Championships are March 14-15 in Albuquerque, N.M.

By my count, Oregon has 11 athletes or relay teams in the top 10 of the NCAA Division I women's descending order list, seven in the top five.

Senior Laura Roesler has the best 800 time of 2 minutes, 1.32 seconds, and freshman Jasmine Todd is second in both the 60 and the long jump.

The Oregon men don't have the same kind of firepower. To make a run, the Ducks will need the maximum from distance runners Edward Cheserek, Parker Stinson and Mac Fleet, as well big performances by hurdler Johnathan Cabral and heptathlete Dakotah Keys.

Despite not having an indoor facility, the Ducks have come home from the NCAA Indoor with a championship trophy in every season since 2009, when the men won. The women took over in 2010 and haven't done anything but claim titles since.